Estimated reading time — 11 minutes

The following are journal excerpts taken from four in-resident counselors working a summer camp in coastal Georgia (c.2012). All entries are transcribed wholly and completely unfiltered.

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James – 7/1/2012

This is a log of repeated occurrences from Tortoise Cabin (location—across the estuary from counselor quarters).

Desc.

For many, many years, camp associates, fishermen, etc. have seen a pair of glowing orange eyes from the right-wing window of the camp’s abandoned Tortoise Cabin. Eyes are unnaturally large, and when viewed with binoculars, show black pupils. They train on whoever might be viewing the cabin at the time of occurrence (eyes usually appear at 7:30/8:00PM). Staff/campers call the phenomenon “Captain Jack”. I’ve dug for origins of the name, and can’t find anything of note. Counselors Rose, Gerry, Beck, and I will be trading this journal every night forward to record what we see from both the male/female counselor quarters. Why? Why are we doing this? No one seems to think the eyes are odd, but from what I have seen, they are. Most people think it’s a staff prank—reflectors hitting the sun at the right point every evening. I’ve been in Tortoise Cabin. I haven’t seen a reflector post, or anything like, being stored in the closets, bathrooms, under the floorboards. The dust is so thick, that if anything was there and had been hidden, it would have shown on the floor. There were no shoeprints in any of Tortoise Cabin when I visited (except, aftwards, mine).

Rose sees it from her bedroom window every night. She can’t read without seeing the glow in the corner of her eye (she could just shut her blinds).

Gerry says he can’t go to sleep because he says he knows “the eyes are watching me (him) and me (him) specifically” (he could just shut his blinds).

Beck says if the camp would let her bring her concealed carry, she would use Captain Jack as target practice.

This journal is being taken outside of official camp function.

We all have the same feeling that this should be recorded first, for answers, and second, in case this blows into something else. Like a Hardy Boys mystery. A fake ghost guarding buried treasure, or a money-laundering operation.

Rose, Gerry, and Beck are just as bought in as me. They’re betting on the money-laundering theory.

Tonight the eyes sat there and watched me. I know they were watching me specifically because through the binoculars, I could see the cave of the irises facing me fully. The orange almost looks like it’s lit up with dim neon. Can’t see what they’re attached to whatsoever. I gave Ol’ Cap the bird and shut the blinds. Going to sleep. Next entry, I’ll be more creative. Maybe we’ll go by and visit him when he appears sometime.

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Gerry – 7/2/2012

I’m not very good at writing.

I hate that thing. Freaky bug eyes staring at me. I’ve put in at least three complaints since I’ve started working here. They won’t take the prop down. I hope it’s a prop. 

James told me to write a little bit of an introduction before I go look at Captain Jack, so here it goes.

My name is Gerry. I like baseball, and sewing, and pecans, I’m a distant relative of President Gerald Ford, and my stomach is upset because I put too much hot sauce on my dinner tonight.

James told me we should write about the Captain because it ‘might be something interesting.’ I think he finds camp boring. 

I just want to know what it is. James told me he doesn’t think it’s a setup of LEDs. Other counselors have told me it’s something from senior management to keep the camp a little interesting. But it scares me! If there’s anything I’ve ever felt in this sad phase of my life, it’s fear, fear from Captain Jack. Now I have to look at him. I think it’s a him. It’s hard to say no to James sometimes. I wanted to say no.

EGADS!

Yes EGADS! He’s there. I hate looking. It’s about 7:56. The sun is lowlow. The two orange lights are in the same window they’re in every evening and night.

Gerry out.

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Rose – 7/3/2012

Borrowing James’ binoculars, the eyes aren’t here tonight. Noticed James didn’t describe the Tortoise Cabin that much. It’s one story, wide from the front view, about 150-200 yds across the bay from Counselor Living, and more styled/worn than the other cabins. There’s spanish moss hanging from the gutters. It’s been abandoned since 2001 for cost reasons, and is the single oldest cabin on camp property. I’ve personally heard it was built sometime in the late 1930’s. Now here’s something… Someone walking in front of the cabin. There’s a walking path that makes a U-shape around the entire bay area. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s James taking a late-night stroll. 

The guy was wearing sunglasses and a dark outfit. Weird.

When the sun hits the bay just right, my word the water and trees are beautiful. Beck’s about to be out of the shower. I’ll see if she wants to start her entry early. James’ idea to do this is so funny to me. I think he wants to learn more about our physches? Pysches? Psyches.

Toodles.

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Beck – 7/3/2012

I’m Beck. James is such a pussy. I know he’s going to read this and I hope he’ll read this. I would never steal a shitty camp rifle for personal use. So, my brother is going to be coming by next week to smuggle my .220 swift in. Thermal sights. BONUS: silencer. I probably shouldn’t be writing this as a counselor, but tearing and burning is always an option. I love it out here. 

Did I say my name’s Beck?

I’m the assistant instructor at the camp’s rifle range and head of the counselor first aid unit.

Captain Jack has been staring at me for as long as I’ve been working here and looking in the direction of that cabin. I’ve made it very well known to Jack(ass) that I intend to shoot him someday. James told me to write what I think it is. Looking at the writing that Rose and Gerry did, they didn’t do that. So this is for you James.

It’s a racoon on a window ledge. Probably gets bugged out by its ugly little reflection and holds still for hours on end. Maybe it’s guarding a money laundering scheme. 

I’m sitting at my window right now looking at where the cabin would be. It’s so dark. There’s nothing tonight which is really bizarre because the eyes show up every night.

Beck.

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James – 7/4/2012

Told you to wait until today to write, Beck. I hope she sees this (haha). 

Writing this from somewhere other than my bunk tonight. All four of us are out on the pad about to watch fireworks. Head Counselor Ned is tuning the control board. All of the campers are behind us in case something goes haywire. Gotta love being the first in line in case of a pyro accident! Seriously, it’s fine.

I can’t believe that after all this time, I’ve found my place. I have friends, I have something to do, food and board are covered, and I couldn’t be happier. Sometimes I have a hard time finding something to do, but really? There’s so much to do. This is America. I’m going to stop and enjoy the show before John decides to read this mush, or Beck whacks me because I’m not with the group. 

There are people by Tortoise Cabin, two grown men wearing hats and full suits—in July. I noticed them as the fireworks were going off. They keep going in and out of the side entrance. And they keep looking up, I guess at the fireworks. They’re moving slow, and jerky, almost like they have motor disorders. Telling Ned.

Told Ned. He says he’ll look over there with the A.D. and let me know if anything comes up.

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Rose – 7/5/2012

The eyes are here tonight. Had the boys over earlier to see if they would appear in front of us. Funnily enough, after they left, there they were, staring right at me. If I was feeling dramatic right now, I would describe them as “orange embers burning hate into the dark of the night air.” Honestly, they look like two oranges being held up under a blacklight. I don’t understand this. It’s not like writing about the eyes is going to make them do anything. Here’s a journal entry dedicated to whatever the hell I want to write about… Please don’t get angry at me James:

Today I played tennis with Henry. What a nice guy, really. We went swimming before I went off to instruct the afternoon arts and crafts classes. After that, I helped Assistant Director Wane with a hiking group. Then after that, James wanted to hang out. I told him to bring Gerry so we could see if the eyes would be at the window. That circles back to where I started this entry.

Oh, hell, the eyes scare me. A lot more than I would like to let on. They’re familiar, but I know they don’t mean any good, if that makes sense. That’s all I have to say.

Toodles.

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Gerry – 7/7/2012

There’s a reason I haven’t written for a day. I had to practically wrestle the journal to keep it from Beck, she seems to want to write more than me now. Yah, right. The reason is, there are two men I’ve seen around camp in white coats, walking like robots. They’re wearing silver sunglasses and they do this kind of motion where they bring their heads to look up all wobbly and bring them back down fast to look at the ground. I saw one of their eyes from behind the sunglasses while he was turning. It was bright, like it was being lit up from behind. What the hell.

Captain Jack has appeared the past two nights, as he usually does.

Wowee.

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Beck – 7/8/2012

I have a totally unexpected surprise for everyone. My brother has been so smart and is shipping everything in pieces. I HAVE MY THERMAL SIGHT NOW. It works just fine, because as soon as Jack(ass) appeared I used it and saw. Well.

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James – 7/9/2012

Beck has dropped out of the project. She said she had a gift for me that I would be able to get by tomorrow. I’m putting the journal-trading on hiatus for now.

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James – 7/10/2012

Beck’s way quiet. She gave me her scope today, which is, like, what? It’s one of her most prized possessions. She said I “should look”. 

Anyways, Captain Jack is at his post, per usual. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say the eyes look brighter than they did before? If this is someone, they’re persistent, and careful. But—it isn’t.

I know it’s something else. Every time I look at those damned eyes I connect with something bigger. It wants me to be scared, and it loves it. They glow and stare and know. It stares like it can see me and only me, like it wants to know every detail of my life. Like it can see right through the glare on my window into my routine. When I come in for the evening and settle, when I change, when I write, when I draw, when I read. It takes a little bit from the joy of doing something alone. And the fear, my god the fear. I understand them now. When I sit and I’m left guessing whether it’s a person, an animal, the sunset hitting the cabin awkwardly, maybe a pair of headlights from beside my cabin? I haven’t seen anything. There’s a small gap beside the cabin. Nothing wide enough for anything on four wheels.

No, because they’re eyes. Solid, shaped eyes, lit up like a hanging Halloween decoration, but with no skeleton? No suspension? No chords, wires, pulleys, trapdoors. My god I’m going to go nuts with this. Gerry and I are going to stay up playing board games. He’s coming over because I’m the only counselor in this section of my cabin. Four empty bunks, and I’m the only person in this room. I’m OK.

When I wake up some night for a drink of water or to use the bathroom- – –

It’s OK.

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Rose – 7/12/2012

Who am I to judge James? He can’t have this book anymore. I really shouldn’t be writing in here if he can’t have it, but I am. It’s heavy seeing someone going through what he is. I couldn’t tell anybody this, I can’t, it would be awful. I don’t even know if we have a counseling service I could talk to.

He’s gone completely insane. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never seen a person act the way James did last night.

He brought Gerry and I over to see Captain Jack. He said he had a surprise from Beck. I held my tongue, because it didn’t seem like he knew Beck left camp almost a week back. She got really sick.

Gerry and I went to his room. Before, it had always been clean, almost empty. Last night, it was terrible. Lights were turned over, water was everywhere, and some of his furniture looked like it was upside down. The room smelled like body odor. He seemed normal enough as we sat down and he turned on the scope. He was up on his bed on his knees when he looked through it, holding it like a telescope. After some silence, he screamed. It was shrill and high, and out of nowhere. Just after the scream, he threw the scope at his bathroom mirror and started saying “don’t look, don’t look” over and over. The scope was broken, and so was a part of his mirror, so there was no looking. We just left the room. 

Gerry and I left him a note later that night saying he could talk to us if he wanted to.

James is a good friend.

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Rose – 7/15/2012

Here I am, again. 

Management is going to fire James. I heard it from someone close to the top. Counselors in his building started complaining of a smell. I talked with Henry about it, and he says it smells like the time his dog got a really bad infection on its back paw. He also said that the only way James will talk to anybody is with his door cracked, if at all. Naturally, management went in for an inspection. I heard it was messy, and they couldn’t find the source of the smell. James wasn’t in there, even though he hadn’t left his room in days. I was told he came back at some point because the boy counselors could hear noise coming from his room. 

Right now, girls can’t go into the boys counselor quarters or vice versa. 

I hope James gets help.

I feel awful.

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Date Unknown

Stolen I stole this Rosey is such a heavy sleeper such a sleeper. Have you ever seen anyone sleep like that before through when I broke her window? She was so beautiful I almost touched that face but I stopped I stopped myself. Because that’s a big no in the book. Because when I touch her I wouldn’t want to stain her face she wouldn’t want the smell on her it doesn’t take an einstein to know I’m oozing. So beautiful but I can’t leave my room again because they’ll take me out and I’ll have to wait till they take me out before I go to see tortoise. And sometimes when I squint hard enough he isn’t so far away but hes right at my window but i cant see him ill meet him Have You Met Captain Jack?

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Date Unknown

Have You Met Captain Jack? They got me by my collar and I tore but I left before they wanted me to go, hello? And so I went to tortoise cabin and they still are looking for me with their bobbing lights they won’t want to look in here because of the fight that the Cap will snap at the men with the bobbing lights. Right? Oh but he’s greater than I could see, you see He was so kind with the way he looked down at me he doesn’t have lips or cheeks or much of that skin as can matter but he has the teeth and he looks at me with the eyes, most beautiful eyes when you see a picture of the sun or when your floaters hit the light just right, but not at night. They swim like they’re never going to stop like little brine in a deep ocean and he looks at me with the orange with the black hole in the middle and his skin is just as pale as the bone that he has of a moan his head is so big and strange like a chewed gum when beck went to get the gun oh his eyes are low and his foreheads high and his nose is turned up to the sky. And he has the most beautiful coat, Most? Have I ever seen a more cotton strapped suit with all of its buckles and buttons but so white but so dirty he plays like hes in the cut grass and the little scabs and streaks of blood. But peroxide, mother? Peroxide will get it out I said because my mom put that in my head but he said he likes them because they’re just as beautiful as my friends and i would ever be, see? But as he looks down at me with those big huge swimming old loving eyes I feel just at home as I ever will because theres no pullies strings or wires attached to old jack just him and what he loves for when he’ll love when the sun goes down and he sees all of his children play Then I asked jack why he was so captain and he told me because a father is the captain and he loves all of them and he watches for a tight ship. He loves them and me, and if you dont watch out Captain Jack will love you too.

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Counselor James Winston was reported missing on July 20th, 2012.

James’ quarters and vehicle were found vacant/present 24 hours prior to the report’s submission.

When James’ quarters were opened for investigation, local law enforcement cataloged a large body of evidence surrounding James’ mental state before his disappearance. Eyewitness testimony further backed police findings. 

James’ room showed signs of extreme disturbance in the treatment of items and fixtures observed. Various pieces of furniture were turned over, papers and books were scattered across the room, bite marks matching James’ dental records were found on the walls. The only mirror present in the room was found shattered at various points of impact and covered with blood/various body fluids not associated with urinary or fecal waste. All attempts at identifying the carrier of said fluids came back as a positive match for James Winston.

The journal from which these entries were extracted from was discovered on location in a crawlspace beneath “Tortoise Cabin” by a camp staffer in 2015.

Any information regarding the condition/whereabouts of James Winston would be greatly appreciated at the listed contact(s).

Alfred “Al” H.S. Rogers

Crediting Name: Eric S. McCarthy

Social Media/Website Links: 

https://www.youtube.com/@hidebehindstudios (YouTube); https://www.instagram.com/hidebehindstudios (Instagram); https://www.reddit.com/user/Hidebehind_389/ (Reddit)